Gas-fading inhibitor for dyed textiles



Unit d States Patent 7 2,992,064 GAS-FADING INHIBITOR FOR DYED TEXTILES David M. Musser, Fair Lawn, N.J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Chicopee Manufacturing Corporation, New Brunswick, N.J., a corporation of Massachusetts No Drawing. Filed Apr. 15, 1953, Ser. No. 349,083

' 9 Claims. (Cl. 8-61) This invention relates broadly to the dyeing of acetate and other synthetic fibres dyed with dyes of the anthraquinone or other types which fade or change color when subjected to an acid atmosphere and, more particularly, relates to the treatment of such dyed fabrics to inhibit such gas-fading.

In the coloring'of textile materials it is very desirable that the colors produced on the materials be as fast as possible to agencies such as atmosphere containing acid fumes. When fabrics made of acetate and similar synthetic fibres to which dyes such as those of the anthraquinone type have been applied are exposed to acid fumes, such as, for example, the products of combustion of coal and gas, the color fades or undergoes a change in shade. This change is usually referred to as acid or gas-fading. The change which occurs may be a dulling of the brightness of the shade in some instances, and in others there may be a definite change in color. This undesirable efiect is frequently observed in the case of many anthraquinone dyes which yield valuable blue colors on organic derivative of cellulose materials. When fabrics dyed with these colors are exposed to acid fumes the colors change from a pure blue shade to one having a reddish cast. On continued exposure to the acid fumes the blue color may even change to a pink color. Such changes naturally restrict the range of usefulness of these dyes and methods of increasing the resistance of these dyes to acid fading are of great commercial importance.

It has been a principal objective of my invention, which is achieved in the manner and by the means set forth herein, to provide a process and a composition of matter which will prevent the fading of dyes especially those of the anthraquinone type applied to cellulose acetate and other synthetic fibres when exposed to atmospheric gases such as those referred to. In accordance with the invention a composition of matter is provided which is applied as a textile finishing agent to protect such dyes from undergoing change when exposed to acid atmospheric gases, including those containing oxides of nitrogen, which will not affect the shade or light fastness of such dyes, which will not change materially the hand or weight of the fabric, which will be readily soluble in water, and which will be compatible with the dullers, weighters, resins and other finishing agents which are commonly used.

When textiles formed of cellulose acetate and other synthetic fibres dyed with dyes of the type referred to are stored in places where they are exposed to an acid atmosphere it has been observed that the colors change, for example by fading. Various processes and compositions of matter have been proposed for inhibiting this undesirable eifect and these methods and compositions have involved the introduction of compositions of matter into the dye bath and the application of compositions of matter to the dyed textile as a finishing agent.

My invention consists, in general, in the application of a new composition of matter to the dyed textile in the finishing bath and consists, in general, in adding to the finishing bath a water-soluble composition of matter consisting of a major portion of a water-soluble salt of an amino acid and a minor portion of a water-soluble organic amine. In general, any alkaline metal salt, ammonium salt or amine salt of a ditrior poly-basic amino acid may be employed if it possesses good water-solubility and does not effect a shade change nor affect the 2,992,064 Patented July-11, 1961 "ice light-fastness of fabrics dyed with acetate dyes. The same properties are required of the organic amine which, in addition, must be compatible in aqueous solutions with the salt of the amino acid.

The invention will be more fully set forth in the following detailed description which includes examples which are illustrative embodiments of the invention and which impose no limits thereon.

In the following examples, parts are expressed in parts by weight unless otherwise stated:

Example I 80 parts of the sodium salt of tris (hydroxymethyl) bis (carboxy-methyl) amino methane (40% solution) 10 parts of triethanolamine 10 parts of water Example II 70 parts of potassium salt of tris (carboxymethyl) amine (50% solution) 15 parts of triethylene tetramine 5 parts of diethanolamine 10 parts of water Example III 80 parts of the sodium salt of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (45% solution) 10 parts of diethanolamine 10 parts of triethanolamine Example IV parts of the triethanolamine salt of ethylene diamine tetra alpha methyl acetic acid (40% solution) 15 parts of triethanolamine 10 parts of water A composition of matter consisting of the ingredients set forth in any one of the foregoing examples, which are only illustrative of the invention, is prepared and will be a clear liquid which is readily soluble in water. The composition is applied on a quetsch or padder in the finishing bath. Solution concentrations of 1% to 4% are preferred. On medium dyeings a 1% solution of one of the compositions according to the invention will give one cycle of protection, a 2% solution will give two cycles of protection, and a 3% or 4% solution will give three cycles of protection as measured by the American Association of Textiles Chemists and Colorists Tentative Test Method 23-25.

While I have described certain examples of my invention, it will be apparent to those schooled in the art that these examples are only illustrative and impose no limitation thereon not imposed by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of inhibiting the gas-fading action of acid gases upon dyes of the anthraquinone type applied to synthetic fibers, which comprises contacting the dyed fibers with a solution comprising a major portion of at least one water-soluble salt of an amino acid selected from the group consisting of the sodium salt of tris (hydroxymethyl) bis (carboxy-methyl) amino methane, the potassium salt of tris (carboxy-methyl) amine, the sodium salt of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid, and the triethanolamine salt of ethylene diamine tetra alpha methyl acetic acid, and a minor portion of at least one Watersoluble organic amine selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine, triethylene tetramine and diethanolamine.

2. The method of inhibiting the gas-fading action of acid gases upon dyes of the anthraquinone type applied to synthetic textile fibers, which comprises contacting the dyed fibers with a solution comprising a major portion of the sodium salt of tris (hydroxymethyl) bis (carboxy- IJ a 3 methyl) amino methane, a minor portion of triethanolamine, and water.

3. The method of inhibiting the gas-fading action of acid gases upon dyes of the anthraquinone type applied to synthetic fibers, which comprises contacting the dyed fibers with a solution comprising a major portion of the sodium salt of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid, and a minor portion of diethanolamine and triethanolamine. 4. The method of inhibiting the gas-fading action of acid gases upon dyes of the anthraquinone type applied to synthetic textile fibers, which comprises contacting the dyed fibers with a solution comprising a major portion of the triethanolamine salt of ethylenediamine tetra alpha methyl acetic acid, a minor portion of triethanolamine, and water.

5. A solution for finishing synthetic textile fibers dyed with dyes of the anthraquinone type, which comprises a major portion of at least one water-soluble salt of an amino acid selected from the group consisting of the sodium salt of tris (hydroxymethyl) bis (carboXy-methyl) amino methane, the potassium. salt of tris (carboxymethyl) amine, the sodium salt of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid, and the triethanolamine salt of ethylene di-' amine tetra alpha methyl acetic acid, and a minor portion of at least one Water-soluble organic amine selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine, triethylene tetramine and diethanolamine.

6. A solution for finishing synthetic textile fibers dyed with dyes of the anthraquinone type, which comprises a major portion of the sodium salt of tris (hydroxy-methyl) bis (carboxy-methyl) amino methane, a minor portion of triethanolamine, and water.

7. A solution for finishing synthetic textile fibers dyed with dyes of the anthraquinone type, which comprises a major portion of the sodium salt of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid, and a minor portion of diethanolamine and triethanolamine.

8. A solution for finishing synthetic textile fibers dyed with dyes of the anthraquinone type, which comprises a major portion of the triethanolamine salt of ethylene diamine tetra alpha methyl acetic acid, a minor portion of tirethanolamine, and water.

9. As a product of manufacture, a solution for treating synthetic textile fibers dyed with dyes of the anthraquinone type to render such dyed fibers resistant to gasfading, which comprises 80 parts by weight of a aqueous solution of the sodium salt of ethylene diamine tetra aceticv acid, 10 parts by weight of diethanolamine and 10 parts by weight of triethanolamine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Silk Journal and Rayon World, November 1945, page 44. 

1. THE METHOD OF INHIBITING THE GAS-FADING ACTION OF ACID GASES UPON DYES OF THE ANTHRAQUINONE TYPE APPLIED TO SYNTHETIC FIBERS, WHICH COMPRISES CONTACTING THE DYED FIBERS WITH A SOLUTION COMPRISING A MAJOR PORTION OF AT LEAST ONE WATER-SOLUBLE SALT OF AN AMINO ACID SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE SODIUM SALT OF TRIS (HYDROXYMETHYL) BIS (CARBOXY-METHYL) AMINO METHANE, THE POTASSIUM SALT OF TRIS (CARBOXY-METHYL)AMINE, THE SODIUM SALT OF ETHYLENE DIAMINE TETRA ACETIC ACID, AND THE TRIETHANOLAMINE SALT OF ETHYLENE DIAMINE TETRA ALPHA METHYL ACETIC ACID, AND A MINOR PORTION OF AT LEAST ONE WATERSOLUBLE ORGANIC AMINE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF TRIETHANOLAMINE, TRIETHYLENE TETRAMINE AND DIETHANOLAMINE. 